Circulation and expansion joint for well devices



cred into the hole on a 4 ing or drill .bodiment shown in the drawing is not to be taken a mechanism illustrated in open position;

Patented June 17, 1941 cmcnnarron AND sxmmsros JOINT son WELL DEVICES Reuben C.

Baker. Coaiinga, cent, Baker Oil Tools, Inc., Huntington a corporation California assignor to Park, Calm,

Application July 25, 1939, Serial No. 286,405

"-12Claims.

This invention relates to circulation and expansion joints employed in connection with well devices, such as cement retainers, which are lowrunning-in string of tub- -pipe to be set in the casing and disconnected from the string after the desired cementing or other 0 Disconnection of the string is usually eflected by rotating it in the proper direction to unocuple the elements of a threaded Joint securing it to the well device. But since the device is fixed to the casing, such unscrewingcauses elevation of the mating threaded element on the tubing string and the corresponding raising of the whole string in the event that it is fixed to the elevated element. invariably, binding at the det=-. ble threaded joint occurs, due to the progressively increasing load laced on the threads as rotation of the string continues, occasioned by the relieving of the tension in thestring and its resting on the joint.

The provision of a telescopic expansion joint in the string immediately above the well device obviates the aforementioned dimculty, permitting ease of rotation of the string and its ready disconnection. Moreover, specific flow features can be incorporated in the expansion joint to provide selective control of the paths pursued by drilling mud, cement slurry, or any other fluid with respect to the tubing, well device, and easing.

peration has been periormed.

, means of mating left drel H and the cylinder l It is an object of the present inventionto Drovide a circulation and expansion joint of the aforementioned character embodying improved selectivity features for controlling the paths or flow of fluid passing from a string oi-tubing or drill-pipe.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved valve mechanism forming part of a telescopic circulation and expansion joint.

The invention has other objects that will become apparent from a consideration of an emaccompanylns and forming part of the present specification. This form will now be described in detail, but it is to he understood that such detailed description in a limited sense, since the scope or the invention is best defined by the appended claims. Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a. partial longitudinal sectional view 01' a circulation and expansion joint with its valve Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, with the valve mechanism shown in closed position;

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken along the line 3-3 oi? Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is an elevation of the invention in association with a well packer.

A circulation and expansion joint A is incorporated in a tubing string i6 threaded to a joint of tubing B, and with its lower mandrel H threadedly connected with a sub l2, which, in turn, is detachably secured to a well device in the form of a cement retainer C, this. latter connection usually being eflected by -hand threads (not shown) oi the tubing string e sub from the set in so that right-hand rotation can produce disconnection of th cement retainer after the latter has been the casing- Thecirculation and expansion joint consists of the abovementioned mandrel ii having a plurality oi splines i3 welded or otherwise secured thereto for cooperatively torming a telescopic connection with inwardly directed. ribs Hi provided on the interior of a seat i5 threaded to a cylinder I6, whose'upper end is attached to the collar It as byv welding material l1. These parts permit relative longitudinal movement between the man- 6, but also provide a positive driving interconnection because of the engagement between the ribs l4 on the valve head and the splines l3 secured to the mandrel. It is to be noted; however, that circumferential clearance I8 is allowed between the splines and ribs to permit passage of fluid therebetween in the pertormance of objectives later described.

A valve head is is threadedly attached to the upper end oi! the" mandrel and has a depending skirt portion 20 spaced from the mandrel to form an annular pocket 2|. capable of receiving the upper part oia sleeve 22 slidably mounted on the I mandrel. The lower end of this sleeve rests on the splines l3 and is provided with a flange 23 carryi g a retaine a packing sleeve. of rubber or the like is secured through the agency or their respective interlocking flanges 26, 21. Similarly, interlocking flanges 28, 28 secure the other end of the sleeve to the valve skirt. y

when operating under a no-load condition, the packing sleeve 25 assumes its normal position disposed inwardly from the walls of the cylinder l6, leaving an annular open passage 30 permitting fluid to pass from the interior oi the collar ll, around the valve head 19 and packing, and throughthe circumferential spaces ll between the splines and valve seat to the'exterior oi the tubing string. Should the upper part or the valve with its upper collar r ring 24 to which one end 01 Joint, not only is string after the well device has been set in the casing will move the collar it, cylinder ll, and attached valve seat l5 upwardly to produce engagement between a tapered surface on the valve seat and an opposed surface on the sleeve flange 23, to cause upward sliding of the sleeve within the annular recess 2| and compression of the rubber packing element 25 between its retainers transversely into sealing engagement with the walls of the cylinder. with the parts in this relationship, the annular passage 30 is closed, fluid being prevented from circulating around the valve head and mandrel in the manner described above. Instead, this fluid can only pass downwardly through the valve mandrel ll, sub l2 and well device 0 for the performance of whatever operation is desired. Following the performance 0! this desired operation, the strain on the tubing can be relieved and the telescopic parts II, II separated to permit the resiliency or elasticity in the packing sleeve to elongate it toits normal position away from the cylinder, to open the annular passage and allow fluid to pass through this passage and between the spaced inclined seating surfaces on the sleeve 23 and valve seat It to the exterior of the tubing string. Rotation of the tubing string can now effect an unscrewing of the sub I! from the cement retainer C, allowing the former member to be moved upwardly without elevating the entire string, in view of the telescopic splined connection between the mandrel fluid through said II and the valve seat ll and cylinder II which permitsthemandrelanditsassociatedpartstobe slidably received within the enclosing cylinder.

By the use of the circulation and expansion disconnection of the string from the well device made easy, but various other operations can be performed. For example, the fluid or cement siurry within the tubing can be bled 08 into the casing at any time simply by lowering the cylinder I! with respect to the valve mandrel and its head It to allow passage of fluid between these parts. In the performance of a cementing operation, fluid preceding the cement can therefore be kept out of the formation or preventedfromgoingbehindthecesingorliner when desired, and excess slurry can be dissipated 'Iheprovisionofapackingsealintheformod a sleeve adapted to be expanded radially into engagement with the walls of the cylinder provides amuchgrestersealingareathanwasheretoa fore obtained. and consequently, offers a greater degree of assurance that leakage of fluid through the circulation Joint will not occur, especially under high pressure operating conditions. Not only is fluid prevented from leaking along the packing, but its escape is further prevented by the abutting surfaces 23a, ltd provided on the valve seat and sleeve flange, which cooperatively form an additional seal.

I claim: a l. A circulation and expansionjoint adapted to be connected in a tubing string or the like.

including an outer member, an inner member slidably splined to said outer member and forming an annular passage therewith, packing means carried by one of said members, and means for axially loading said packing means to decrease slidably splined to said outer spacedtherefrom to air-i eas to bridge said annularpassage and close the same.

2. A circulation and-expansion Joint adapted be including an outer member, an inner member member and spaced annular passage, a pack- .said inner member, and cooperable means on said members for axially loading said sleeve to decrease its length and compress it laterally into engagement with the inner cylindrical wall of the outer member upon relative longitudinal movement therebetween, whereby to close said passage.

therefrom to form an ing sleeve carried by 3. A circulation and expansion Joint adapted a tubingstring'or the like,- member, a mandrelslidably to be connected in including an outer splined to said outer member and carrying ahead deflne an annular passage. a packing sleeve fixed to said head and'normally spaced from said to permit flow of pasage, and means carried by both said member and sleeve into engagement with .the outer member upon their relative longitudinal extensible movement.- 4 r 4. -A circulation and expansion Joint adapted to be connected in a tubing string or the like, including a cylinder, an abutment flxed to said cylinder, a mandrel slidably splined to said abutment, ahead flxed to said mandrel and spaced from said cylinder to deflnean annular passage,

a packing sleeve carried by said head and nor- 1 an abutment flxed to said a mandrel slidably splined to said abuthead flxed to said mandrel and spaced from said cylinder to deflne an annular passage,

a sleeve slldable on said mandrel, a packing around said sleeve having one end secured to the head and its other said abutment being ada d to contact said sleeve-and cause compression or said packing into sealing contact with said cylinder upon separating movement between said cylinder and mandrel.-

8. A circulation and expansion joint adapted to be connected in a tubing string or .the like, including a cylinder, an abutment flxed to said cylinder, a mandrel slidably splined to said abut ment. a head flxed from said cylinder to deflne an annular passage, a sleeve ,slidableon said mandrel, a packing sleeve around said sleeve having one end secured to the head and its other end to a retainer ring carried by said sleeve, with said sleeve said head and compress said packing into sealing contact with it and said mandrel.

, 'i. In a device of the character described, an outer member, an inner member slidable within said outer member and adapted to rotate therewith, packing means carried bers and having an intermediate surface between of said members,

connected in a tubing string or the like,

mandrel to compress said I stringer thelike,

endsupported by said sleeve,

to said mandrel and spaced said abutment being engageable to move its retainer ring toward said cylinder upon separating move ment between by one of said memlength of said pacmng tive extensible movement of said members for applying longitudinal loading to the ends or said packing means to move the portion between said ends laterally and said intermediate surface into sealing engagement with the other of said members.

8. In a device of the character described, an outer member, an inner member slidable lon itudinally within said outer member and adapted to rotate therewith, means carried by one 01 said members, means operable upon relative sliding'of said'members for axially loadin said packing means to deform it transversely into sealing engagement with the other of said members, and means for positively limiting the extent of deformation of said packing means.

9.- In a device or the character described, an outer member, an inner member slldably splined to said outer member, pacmng means carried by by saidinner member,

and outer members for said packlength and compress the cylindrical 'ing means to decrease its it laterally into engagement with wall of the other of said members to bridge said annular passage and close the same.

11., A circulation and erpansion joint adapted to iorm part oi a tubular string, including an outer member, an inner member slidable within said outer member and spaced therefrom to form an annular passage, cooperable splines carried by said members and other to form fluid passages communicable with said annular possess, a packing sleeve carried and cooperable means on said members for axially loading said packing sleeve to decrease its length and compress it laterally into engagement with the inner cylindrical wall oi the outer member to close said annular passage.

l2. A circulation and expansion joint adapted to form part or a tubular string, including an outer member, an inner member 'slidabie within said outer member and forming an annular pas sage therewith, packing means carried by one of said members, and means for axially loading said packing means to decrease its length and compress it laterally into engagement with the other or said members to bridge said annular passage and close the same, said loading means comprlsingcooperable elements on said inner and outer members for providing ran additional seal to prevent flow oi fluid through said annular e.

REUBEN C.

arcuately spaced from each 

